Being an author is a nerve wracking profession. My launch party for Judgment Fire was scheduled for Saturday, August 11 at the Visitors Center in Springville CA. So I started tracking the progress via UPS. They arrived in California on Tuesday. They arrived on Wednesday. Hooray! Two newspapers had publicity about the signing on Thursday.

The Visitors Center was a perfect place for a book signing. Lots of room, interesting things for people to look at and a volunteer docent for me to talk to when things were quiet. Nearly everyone I sent a personal invitation to came and I sold 17 books which is very good for that kind of event.

The first Saturday of the month I was on a panel at the San Joaquin chapter of Sisters in Crime. Of course I’d hoped to have the books by then. The two other authors and I spoke about our journeys to getting published. One gal had been published by a small independent and things hadn’t worked out well for her. Another chose the iUniverse route and was quite pleased with her book and it’s been selling well. I’ve been published many ways, beginning with a New York publisher. The editor who loved the book left and the new editor didn’t want to publish the second book. I found a publisher for it–and the man who ran the company turned out to be a crook. Yes, he actually went to jail. I was able to sell all the books they printed. I began writing mysteries and the first one was published by another crook–this one fled the company. The 50 books that had been published, sold out at the first book signing. A small independent publisher republished the book with a new cover and all those books were sold.

The same publisher went on to publish the first four books in my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. Sadly, she passed away. In between times, I’d discovered electronic publishers who also print in trade paperback and had other books published. When my series publisher gone, I had to find another. This time I wanted a publisher who was savvy about the publishing business and was more than a one man show. That’s why I chose Mundania Press for Calling the Dead. Fortunately, Mundania liked my writing as well as I liked their business sense.

I have books published by two other electronic publishers, Hard Shell Word Factory and Tigress Press–both excellent publishers.

While all this is going on, husband and I have agreed to house a grandson who has had problems. This is the second grandson with whom we’ve shared our home. The first one we had from the time he was 11 until he was 20. This one we’re starting with at age 20. Wish us luck.

Next Saturday, the 18th, I’m heading to Hanford CA and the Artworks on 120 West. 6th St. I’ll be there from 9 a.m. to noon with my friend and fellow mystery author, Sunny Frazier. On Saturday the 26th I’ll be in Ventura for a Book Festival at the Universalist Unitarian Church on Ralston Ave.

Of course, anyone interested in knowing anything about any of my books can always check them out on my webpage: http://fictionforyou.com

Here are the rest of the places I’m stopping on my virtual book tour this month:

I am including it here at the Book’s Den as an invite for anyone with a book club in the Philadelphia/South Jersey region that enjoys mysteries/suspense/pyschological thrillers. I, David H. Schleicher, would be willing to entertain any offer to come meet with a local group in this area to sign copies and discuss my novel The Thief Maker. Feel free to contact me through the Book’s Den or my official blog.

_____________________________________________________________________

HOT NEWS!

Upon just arriving home from vacation (stay tuned for an upcoming travel log), I’ve learned that THE THIEF MAKER is now “in-stock” at some additional Barnes & Noble locations in the greater Philadelphia area.

In addition to being in stock and on the shelves at the Marlton and Moorestown, New Jersey locations, steady sales mean my novel will now also be in stock at the Deptford, New Jersey location and also in the Philadelphia and Valley Forge locations in Pennsylvania. If you go to any of these locations to pick up a copy and they are out of stock, tell them to order more. It means a local author is selling and they should jump on the bandwagon.

Thanks to all who are helping my grass-roots campaign to turn THE THIEF MAKER into a success! If you are among those who live in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area and have not been able to purchase a copy because you prefer not to shop on-line, now you have no reason not to get a copy!

About this Blog

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the blog where you can connect with the book authors.

We are a group of authors from various writing and social groups and now collaborate in this outreach endeavor. Find out more here. This is a bilingual blog, so if you encounter a blog entry in Spanish just scroll down a little and you'll find some in English as well.

Our goal is to connect with you, so if you know of book club groups who want to link to us e-mail us at editor@clarylopez.com.

We want to introduce you to new and established authors and for you to participate in our blog by commenting frequently; we want to know you.

If you would like to exchange links with The Book's Den please e-mail me.